Time switch



March 13, 1934. F. LUX 1,951

TINE SWITCH Filed Feb. 8, 1930 2 Sheets-Sheet l 1 it. l INVENTOR March 13, 1934. F LUX L9ELZ7 TIME SWITCH Filed Feb. 8, 1930 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR ATTO R N E Y 5" Patented Mar. 13, 1934 UNITED STATES PATENT; FFlCE TIME swl'ron Connecticut Application February 8, 1930, Serial No. 426,845

9 Claims. (Cl. 200-39) This invention relates to time switches, and more particularly to a device adapted to open or close a circuit at a predetermined time, and after the lapse of a further predetermined time to reverse the condition of the circuit.

One object of the invention is to provide a time switch of the above nature having means for adjusting it for any time during which it is desired to have the circuit remain closed or open.

A further object is to provide a time switch of the above nature which will be relatively simple in construction, inexpensive to manufacture, easy to manipulate, compact, and very efficient and durable in use.

With these and other objects in view there has been illustrated on the accompanying drawings one form in which the invention may be conveniently embodied in practice.

Fig. 1 represents a front elevation of an elec- 20 tric range time switch embodying the invention,

certain parts being broken away to more clear- 1y disclose the underlying structure.

Fig. 2 is a side view of the same.

Fig. 3 is a bottom sectional, view taken along the line 3-3 of Fig. 1, looking in the direction of the arrows.

Fig. 4 is a detailed sectional view, on an enlarged scale, showing a portion of the mochanism.

Fig. 5 is a rear sectional view, on an enlarged scale, taken along the line 5-5 of Fig. 3, looking in the direction of the arrows.

fig. 6 is a fragmentary rear sectional view of the same, taken along the line 6-6 of Fig. 3, looking in the direction of thearrows.

Referring now to the drawings in which like reference numerals denote corresponding parts throughout the several views, the numerals 1c and 11 indicate front and rear frame members, respectively, between which is mounted the usual time train indicated generally by the numeral 12. The clock movement is secured to a rear base plate 13 by means of pillars 14 connected to the plates 10 and 11, said pillars projecting through said base plate 13 and being held in position by nuts 15 screwed upon the threaded rear ends 16 of said pillars 14.

Located in front of the frame 10, in spaced relation thereto, is a dial plate 17 provided with a time indicating dial 18 and a pair of smaller time a switch dials 19 and 20, as clearly shown in The usual hour hand 21 and minute hand 22 are mounted on concentric shafts 23 and 2% located at the center of the dial 18, said shafts being driven in the usual manner from the time train 12. The time switch dials l9 and 20 are provided with shafts 25 and 26 respectively, carrying indicating pointers 27 and 28. The shafts 25 and 26 extend rearwardly through the dial plate 1'7, the frame plates 10 and 11, and the rear base plate 13, and said shafts 25 and 26 are adapted to be set by manipulation of suit able knurled knobs 29 and 30 located behind the plate 13.

Between the front plate 10 and the dial plate 17, each of the shafts 25 and 26 has a slidable sleeve cam 31 and 31a mounted thereon, one side of each sleeve cam engaging a cam collet 32 and 32a, having a radial lug'33 and 33a projecting therefrom, the other side of each sleeve cam 31 and 31a engaging an operating strip 34 and 34a, loosely surrounding the time switch dial shafts 25 and 26, and connected to a square bar 35 and 35a. The collets 32 and 3205 are preferably frictionally mounted on said. shafts 25 and 26, re spectively.

The sleeve cams 31 and 31a have rigidly secured thereto a pair of gears 36 and 37, respectively, said gears meshing with the same idle gear 38 connected with the dial train of the clock move ment, the ratio of teeth on the gears being pref erably so arranged that the gears 36 and 37 will make one revolution each twelve hours. The front end of each sleeve cam 31 and 31a is pro vided with a cam track 40 and 10d adapted to contact with the projecting lugs 33 and 33a on the cam collets 32 and 32a. associated therewith. Each cam track iu and 40a. has a low portion, per mitting the sleeve cams 31 and 31a to slide forwardly along the shafts 25 or 26 whenever the lugs 33 and 33a come into alinement with said low portion, this sliding motion being caused by a pair of helical springs li and 42 connecting the rear portions of the bars 35 and 35a to the front frame 10.

By means of this construction, it will be seen that by suitably adjusting the knobs 29 and so, the shafts 25 and 25 may be so rotated as to eurately position the lugs 33 and 33a at any de sired points, the setting of said lugs predatormining the exact times when the sleeve cams and 3141 will slide forward on the shafts 25 an 26 in response to the operation of the gears be and Switch-operating; mechanism desired, provision is made of a switch-operating mechanism now to be described.

Located midway between the set shafts 25 and V 26 is an operating shaft 43 adapted to be rotated 6 in one direction by a helical spring 44 connected at its ends to the rear plate 11 and to said shaft 43 respectively. The shaft 43 is provided with a cam ratchet 45 having a single tooth 45a and located between said rear plate 11 and base plate 13, and adapted to successively engage with the projecting ends of the bars 35 and 35a, as most clearly shown in Fig. 3. The spring 44 on. the shaft 43 is adapted to be wound up by the manipulation of a knurled knob 46.

15 Operation In operation, assuming the clock has been wound in the usual manner by the key 46a, the two pointers 27 and 28 in front of the switch dials l9 and will be set for the times at which it is desired to have the oven circuit closed and opened respectively. The operating shaft 43 will then be manually turned by the knob 46 about one revolution, rotating the cam ratchet 45 which slide laterally in the rectangular slots 46c and 46d respectively until said tooth 45a is positively stopped by a stop stud 46c located on the frame 11. Upon releasing the knob 46 the spring 44 will cause the shaft 43 to rotate in the reverse direction until the tooth 45a strikes the projecting end of the latching bar 35. When the time indicated by the pointer 28 on the switch dial 20 has arrived, the lug 33 of the on collet 32a will come into alinement with the low portion of the cam track a of the sleeve cam 310a permitting the spring 42 to force'the rear projecting end of the bar 35a out of alinement with the cam ratchet 45. The spring 44 of the operating shaft will then suddenly rotate the cam ratchet shaft 43 a half revolution until the tooth a on said ratchet strikes the projecting end of the other bar 35a, thereby preventing further rotation of said shaft 43. When the time indicated by the pointer 2'7 on the switch dial 19 has arrived, the lug 33 of the off collet 32 will release the sleeve cam 31, permitting the latching bar 35 to slide forwardly, again releasing the tooth 45a of the ratchet 45. Under the influence of the spring 44 the shaft 43 will then suddenly rotate about 150 degrees until the rear of the tooth 45a of the ratchet 45 comes into engagement with the stop stud 46c.

As herein disclosed, the circuit controlling switch comprises a mercury tube 47 pivoted upon a stud 48 (Fig. 5), said tube 4'7 having a pair of depending terminal rods 49 and 50 which are adapted to connect into any suitable circuit, such as an electric oven. A rotatable locking block 51 is also provided to permit the manual operation 80 of the switch whenever desired, said block 51 being pivoted on the rear plate 13 andhaving a handle 52. The mercury tube 47 is carried by a bracket 53, the base of which supports a Z-shaped lever 54 having an outwardly curved upper endwill force the latch bars 35 and 35a successively to ing the mercury tube 47 first to one side and then to the other about its fulcrum stud 48. When the handle 52 of the block 51 is in the horizontal off position shown in Fig. 5, the device is in position for automatic on and off operation by the time switch mechanism. When, however, the handle 52 is in the on position, the fiat face 51a of said block 52 will be in engagement with the lower end 55a of the Z-shaped lever 54 and will hold the mercury tube bracket 53 in the on position shown in Fig. 5 as long as desired.

It will be understood that the term switch as employed in this specification embraces not only a device for making and breaking an electric circuit, or shifting an electric current to another circuit, but also includes any mechanical device for initiating, stopping or modifying the operation of a machine, apparatus or other device. Thus, the mechanism herein disclosed may be employed for operating rotary electric switches, power controlling devices, gas and liquid valves, etc.

While there has been disclosed in this specification one form in which the invention may be embodied, it is to be understood that this form is shown for the purpose of illustration only, and that the invention is not to be limited to the specific disclosure 'but may be modified and embodied in various other forms without departing from its spirit. In short, the invention includes all the modifications and embodiments coming within the scope of the following claims.

Having thus fully described the invention, what is claimed as new, and for which it is desired to 110 secure Letters Patent, is:

1. In a time switch, a timing mechanism, a pair of cams rotated by said timing mechanism, a rotary switch operating member, a. pair of means in the path of said member to successively interrupt the rotation of said member, and devices operated by each of said cams for successively releasing said means to intermittently permit said member to rotate and operate said switch. 120

2. In a time switch, a timing mechanism, a. plurality of cams rotated by said timing mechanism, a rotary switch-operating member, a plurality of means in the path of said member to successively interrupt the rotation of said member, and devices operated by each of said cams for successively releasing said means to intermittently permit said member to rotate and opcrate said switch.

3. In a. time switch, a timing mechanism, a 130 pair of cams rotated by said timing mechanism, a spring urged rotary switch operating member, means in the path of said member for normally holding said member against rotation, comprising a pair of spring urged slidable latching bars operated by said cams for successively releasing said switch operating member to permit it to partially rotate and operate said switch.

4. In a time switch, a timing mechanism, a set shaft, 8. collet mounted on said shaft and 140 having a projecting lug on its periphery, a sleeve cam slidable on said shaft and having a gear secured thereto, said gear being rotated by said timing mechanism, a latching member spaced from and loosely mounted onsaid shaft, means for pressing said member against said sleeve cam to hold it against said collet, a. switch-operating ratchet in alinement with a portion of said latching member and having a single tooth, normally locked-mechanism for rotating said ratchet, 150

timing mechanism, a latching bar having a strip l0 loosely fitting about said shaft, means for presshas said strip against said sleeve cam to hold it against said collet, a switch operating' ratchet in alinement with a portion oi said latching member and having a single tooth, normally locked mechanism for rotating said ratchet, said ratchet being held against movement in one oli-= section by said latching member until it is with drawn by the sliding of said sleeve earn.

8. In a time switch, a timing mechanism, a

set shaft, a eollet mounted on said shaft and having a projecting lug on its periphery, a sleeve cam slidable on said shaft and having a secured thereto, said gear being rotated by said timing mechanism, a latching member pivotallv mounted on said shaft, a spring for pressing; said member against said sleeve cam to hold it against said collet, a switch-operatine ratchet in aline ment with a portion of said latching member and having a single tooth, norrnallv loclied mechanism for rotating said ratchet, said ratchet being held against movement in one direction by said latching 'ineinber until'it is withdrawn by the sliding oi said sleeve cam,

,etipae on in ii. in a time switch, a spring-urged rotary switch-operating member, a cam ratchet having a single catch, a time-operated sliding latch bar initially engaging said catch and holding said operating member from rotation, and means for sliding said latch bar out of engagement with said catch at the expiration of a predetermined time to permit the operation of said rotary memher, said latch bar being mounted to swing later ally, said ratchet having a cam surface for forc-= ing said latch bar laterally when manually turned in one direction.

8. in a time switch, a timing mechanism, a pair of shafts, a pair of slidable cams on said shafts rotated by said timing mechanism, a spring-urged rotary switch operating member located between said shafts, means for normally holding said member against rotation, and a pair of slidable latching means operated by said cams for releasing said holding means to permit the rotation oi said switch=operating member.

ii. in a time switch, a timing mechanism, a cam shaft, a cam slidably mounted on said shaft and driven from said timing mechanism, a springmrged rotary switch-operating member parallel to said cam shaft, spring-urged slielable means in the path of said member for normally holding it against rotation, and means responsive to tl'ie sliding of said cam for moving said slid able means for releasing said member to it to rotate and actuate the switch.

FEEDERICK LUYZ. 

